Press Release - New discovery at Jupiter could help protect Earth-orbit satellites

Issue date: 09 Mar 2008Number: 07/08Radio waves accelerate electrons within Jupiter’s magnetic field in the same way as they do on Earth, according to new research published in Nature Physics this week. The discovery overturns a theory that has held sway for more than a generation and has important implications for protecting Earth-orbiting satellites.Jupiter illustration - Production of synchotron radiation from JupiterUsing data collected at Jupiter by the Galileo spacecraft, Dr Richard Horne of British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and colleagues from the University of California, Los Angeles, and the University of Iowa found that a special type of very low frequency radio wave is strong enough to accelerate electrons up to very high energies inside Jupiter’s magnetic field.

According to lead author, Dr Richard Horne,

“We’ve shown before that very low frequency radio waves can accelerate electrons in the Earth’s magnetic field, but we have now shown that exactly the same theory works on Jupiter, where the magnetic field is 20,000 times stronger than the Earth’s and the composition of the atmosphere is very different. This is the ultimate test of our theory.”

“On Jupiter, the waves are powered by energy from volcanoes on the moon Io, combined with the planet’s rapid rotation – once every 10 hours. Volcanic gasses are ionized and flung out away from the planet by centrifugal force. This material is replaced by an inward flow of particles that excite the waves that in turn accelerate the electrons.”

Understanding how electrons are accelerated will help scientists make better predictions of when satellites are at risk of damage by high-energy charged particles.

These particles encircle the Earth in the Van Allen radiation belts and can damage satellites by causing malfunctions and degrading electronic components.

However, the number of particles in the radiation belts can change dramatically within a few minutes, which is why more accurate forecasting is needed.

The discovery also has otherscientific implications for Jupiter – it overturns a theory that has held sway for more than 30 years. According to Dr Horne,

“For more than 30 years it was thought that the electrons are accelerated as a result of transport towards Jupiter, but now we show that gyro-resonant wave acceleration is a very important step that acts in concert. Once the electrons are accelerated, they are transported closer to the planet and emit intense synchrotron radiation out into interplanetary space.Our theory provides the missing step to explain this high intensity radiation from Jupiter, which was first detected on Earth more than 50 years ago.” ****their theory provides blablabla (I woke up and got paid)****

ENDS

Issued by the British Antarctic Survey Press Office.

The paper ‘Gyro-resonant electron acceleration at Jupiter’, is published in Nature Physics on 9 March 2008.

Wave accelerationThe waves accelerate the electrons by a process known as gyro-resonance – a process where the electrons spiral around the Earth’s magnetic field at the same rate as the waves rotate around the magnetic field – around 3,000 times a second, or 3 kiloHertz. The waves were found to be particularly strong outside the orbit of Jupiter’s moon Io and are known as whistler mode chorus waves. The same waves are found in the Earth’s magnetic field and are measured by BAS scientists in the Antarctic.

Van Allen radiation beltsJupiter, like the Earth, has belts of energetic charged particles (electrons and ions) that surround the planet like a ring doughnut. They are named after James Van Allen who discovered the Earth’s radiation belts 50 years ago using the first US satellite, Explorer I. Jupiter’s belts were also discovered by Van Allen when Pioneer 10 flew past the planet in 1973 on its way to the outer planets. Jupiter’s magnetic field constrains the particles to move in a spiral along the magnetic field. The particles ‘bounce’ between mirror points in the northern and southern hemispheres, and drift around the planet.

Galileo spacecraftLaunched by the space shuttle in October 1989, the NASA spacecraft Galileo was sent to explore Jupiter and its moons, reaching the planet in December 1995. Unfortunately the high-gain antenna failed to deploy properly and the spacecraft could only send a trickle of information back to Earth via its low-gain antenna. Nevertheless, several important new discoveries were made about Jupiter, its moons, magnetic field and particles. As a result, NASA is planning another mission, called Juno, which will study Jupiter’s atmosphere, auroral light emissions, and magnetic field. Juno is due for launch in 2011.

Space and AntarcticaAntarctica is our 'window on space'. Magnetic space storms damage spacecraft, disrupt power supplies, communications and navigation systems and alter satellite orbits. British Antarctic Survey (BAS) scientists are attempting to predict space weather through a better understanding of the complex process that take place when the Earth and Sun's magnetic fields meet. BAS scientists use several different technologies to measure variations in the Earth's magnetic field. Data from these studies are used in mathematical models to test theoretical ideas. This research makes a major contribution to international global research programmes that involve spacecraft and networks of ground-based scientific instruments.

British Antarctic Survey is a world leader in research into global issues in an Antarctic context. It is the UK’s national operator and is a component of the Natural Environment Research Council. It has an annual budget of around £40 million, runs eight research programmes and operates five research stations, two Royal Research Ships and five aircraft in and around Antarctica. More information about the work of the Survey can be found at: http://www.antarctica.ac.uk.

The illusion from which we are seeking to extricate ourselves is not that constituted by the realm of space and time, but that which comes from failing to know that realm from the standpoint of a higher vision. -L.H.

The "linear accelerator" article wrote:As long ago as 1928, R. Wideroe demonstrated that electrons could be accelerated through a tube by applying a radio frequency voltage to separated sections of the tube so that the electrons felt an accelerating electric field when they passed the gap. If it was arranged so that the electrons arrived at the next gap at the right phase of the RF voltage, they would be accelerated again, getting double the energy they would have gotten from just the application of the maximum field of the RF.

The linear particle accelerator is an extension of Wideroe's idea to a long linear array of accelerating "cells" powered by a radio frequency source in the megawatt power range and in the gigahertz frequency range.

The long and short of it seems to be that particle accelerators work by using radio frequency electric fields... Quelle surprise! Now it seems to be that "Radio waves accelerate electrons within Jupiter’s magnetic field in the same way as they do on Earth..." Say it ain't so! Et encore, quelle surprise!

Not only that, but "[t]he discovery overturns a theory that has held sway for more than a generation and has important implications..."

Moreover, it also seems that theories that have held sway about the sun for some odd 30 years are in the process of being overturned, as well!

Press Release - New discovery at Jupiter could help protect Earth-orbit satellites

Issue date: 09 Mar 2008Number: 07/08Radio waves accelerate electrons within Jupiter’s magnetic field in the same way as they do on Earth, according to new research published in Nature Physics this week. The discovery overturns a theory that has held sway for more than a generation and has important implications for protecting Earth-orbiting satellites.

For some reason the prior link wasn't working, so I've grabbed the other versions of the article here:

...Most of the radiation from the Jupiter system is much stronger at longer wavelengths thanwould be expected for thermal radiation. In addition, much of it is circularly or ellipticallypolarized—not at all typical of thermal radiation. Thus, it must be concluded that non-thermalprocesses similar to those taking place in galaxies are at work. That is, ions and electrons acceleratedby the planet’s spinning magnetic field are generating synchrotron radiation...

...As a matter of fact, a predominant feature of Jupiter’s magnetosphere is the plasma torus thatsurrounds the planet, corresponding closely with the orbit of Io, which is at about five Jupiterradii. It is an intensely radiating plasma within a slightly less active outer plasma. To add to theadventure, as Io orbits through the magnetic field lines, an electric current of up to 5 millionAmps is generated between Io and the planet! Where this current reaches the atmosphere ofJupiter, it generates strong radio frequency emissions that can be associated with the orbitalposition of Io. The current also generates auroras in the upper atmosphere of Jupiter...

I do not doubt that we can scale a Red Spot, thats kinda cool Its not jupiter in a soap bubble...

If you only knew the magnificence of the 3, 6 and 9, then you would have a key to the universe.— Nikola TeslaCasting Out the Nines from PHI into Indigs reveals the Cosmic Harmonic Code.— Junglelord.Knowledge is Structured in Consciouness. Structure and Function Cannot Be Seperated.— Junglelord

Another nail in the coffin of the Astrocomical Standard Model has been reported from Jupiter. Its rings have been explained by electrical interaction with the field of the Sun. Although tempered down by "interactions of light and shadow" this new study by University of Maryland´s professor Douglas Hamilton and German co-author, Max Planck´s Harald Krüger - based on data from spacecraft Galileo traversal of Jupiter's rings in 2002-2003 - hold the potential of even more relevations:

"...As they orbit about the planet, dust grains in the rings alternately discharge and charge when they pass through the planet's shadow. These systematic variations in dust particle electric charges interact with the planet's powerful magnetic field. As a result small dust particles are pushed beyond the expected ring outer boundary, and very small grains even change their inclination, or orbital orientation, to the planet..."

Just consider that the Roche-Limit of Jupiter is given at appr. 71.500km. Outside of this gravitationally calculated constant it is stated"that NO RINGS should be possible". This promises to be interesting, as the rings of Jupiter do have a diameter beyond 640.000km…

As I suggest the "solution" will be a necessary mass "recalculation" of Jupiter...

Never forget that ALL DATA on masses of our celestical bodies are MATHEMATICALLY DERIVED FROM their paths and Newton´s Laws. So it may be easy to change them again and again - up to the needs - and not according to reality. But it may be the same as taking away stones from an old building. If you take away too many of them - the whole construct may tumble and fall down, finally.

And in the end even our Sun may turn out to be much more "lighter" than previousely thought - finally crushing all what was speculated about "thermodynamical fusion", nuclear fission from the core etc. etc...

They may have to run after their "missing masses" soon.

FS3(FMV 5-25-08: Edited title to be more general per new directions the thread has taken aside from just the rings of Jupiter.)

I've wondered elsewhere whether this is analogous to the Earth-moon interaction(s) around full moon. IE, the tickle from Earth's plasma tail, which points in the antisunward (away from the sun) direction. One might call that the "shadow" side of Earth. I'm wondering if Jupiter's "shadow" side is also its "plasma tail" ("magnetotail"; assuming it has one) side. If so, are the dust grains charging and discharging as they pass through its plasma tail? Currents, double layers, and all that...?

~Michael Gmirkin

"The purpose of science is to investigate the unexplained, not to explain the uninvestigated." ~Dr. Stephen Rorke"For every PhD there is an equal and oppositePhD." ~Gibson's law

Thank you, MGmirkin, again for adding further facts that I forget to mention - as I thought that regulars of this forum should know about the fact that it was Kristian Birkeland, who was laying out the basics to this "new" findings with his famous Terrella-experiments more than 100 years ago.

FS3 wrote:Just consider that the Roche-Limit of Jupiter is given at appr. 71.500km. Outside of this gravitationally calculated constant it is stated"that NO RINGS should be possible". This promises to be interesting, as the rings of Jupiter do have a diameter beyond 640.000km… As I suggest the "solution" will be a necessary mass "recalculation" of Jupiter...Never forget that ALL DATA on masses of our celestical bodies are MATHEMATICALLY DERIVED FROM their paths and Newton´s Laws.

Very interesting. This idea can also be worth for some orbitting Saturn's satellites inside the Roche's limit and therefore for the mass of Saturn in relationship to its electric condition and the electric environment.

“More than four years ago Picture of the Day articles addressed the "volcanic" plumes on Jupiter's moon Io and demonstrated that they are plasma discharges from the moon to the gas giant. Some planetary scientists later began to acknowledge the electrical connection between them when Io's "footprint" was seen in the polar aurora on Jupiter. “

I am not a scientist, only an avid reader of Thunderbolts. Therefore, I feel uneasy about asking questions on matters that are certainly way above my full understanding. Still, I must say that the subject of the electrical connection between Jupiter and Io was addressed by Dr. Alexey Dmitriev in Planetophysical State Of Earth And Life, published January 8, 1998 by the Millenium Group:

My question would then be: is it possible that scientists “in the West” were not paying attention to Dmitriev’s findings? Following is the pertinent quote from Dmitriev’s essay, which I would like you to share your thoughts on:

“The doubling of the magnetic field intensity on Jupiter (based upon 1992 data), and a series of new states and processes observed on this planet as an aftermath of a series of explosions in July 1994 [caused by "Comet" SL-9] [12].

That is, a relaxation of a plasmoid train [13,14] which excited the Jovian magnetosphere, thus inducing excessive plasma generation [12] and its release in the same manner as Solar coronal holes [15] inducing an appearance of radiation belt brightening in decimeter band (13.2 and 36 cm), and the appearance of large auroral anomalies and a change of the Jupiter - Io system of currents [12, 14].

Update Note From A.N.D Nov. 1997:

A stream of ionized hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, etc. is being directed to Jupiter from the volcanic areas of Io through a one million amperes flux tube. It is affecting the character of Jupiter's magnetic process and intensifying its plasma genesis.{Z.I.Vselennaya "Earth and Universe" N3, 1997 plo-9 by NASA data}

Moreover, the Ulysses spacecraft, traversing high heliospheric latitudes, recorded the absence of the magnetic dipole, which drastically changed the general model of heliomagnetism, and further complicated the magnetologist's analytic presentations.

The most important heliospheric role of coronal holes has now become clear; to regulate the magnetic saturation of interplanetary space. [28,30].

Additionally, they generate all large geomagnetic storms, and ejection's with a southerly directed magnetic field are geo-effective [22].

There is also existing substantiation favoring the solar winds effects upon Earth's atmospheric zone circulation, and lithospheric dynamics [31].

The 23rd cycle was initiated by a short series of sunspots in August 1995 [32], which allows us to predict the solar activity maximum in 1999. What is also remarkable, is that a series of class C flares has already happened in July 1996.

The specificity and energy of this cycle was discussed at the end of the 1980's. [23]. The increased frequency of X-Ray flux flares which occurred in the very beginning of this cycle provided evidence of the large-scale events to come; especially in relation to an increase in the frequency of super-flashes.

The situation has become extremely serious due to the growth in the transmitting qualities of the interplanetary environment [2 3, 24] and the growth of Jupiter's systems heliospheric function; with Jupiter having the possibility of being shrouded by a plasmosphere extending over Io's orbit [13].

As a whole, all of the reporting and observation facilities give evidence to a growth in the velocity, quality, quantity, and energetic power of our Solar System's Heliospheric processes.”

Sandra Rodriguez wrote:I am not a scientist, only an avid reader of Thunderbolts. Therefore, I feel uneasy about asking questions on matters that are certainly way above my full understanding. Still, I must say that the subject of the electrical connection between Jupiter and Io was addressed by Dr. Alexey Dmitriev in Planetophysical State Of Earth And Life, published January 8, 1998 by the Millenium Group:

My question would then be: is it possible that scientists “in the West” were not paying attention to Dmitriev’s findings?

Goodday Sandra,

That is a interesting link you gave there. I'm no scientist either, so I feel uneasy answering questions above my understanding But to try to give you my take on your question, I would say that sometimes the cultural/language barrier sometimes plays a role in the 'East'/'West' relations. But I think slowly more and more those divides are disintegrating on the Internet, which is a good thing of course. On reading the article there are surely some very interesting relations pointed out which are subject of this Forum too. And as the 'East' has had it's own space and science programs which did not always communicate fully with what happened in the 'West'. So I think it is possible that some results or hypotheses have been 'there' for a little longer than 'here'. Where ever here and there are, of course. Also the mindset of the mainstream in the 'west' was not tolerant for ideas like Dmitriev's. But things are changing slowly I think and the Internet is a very valuable tool for that, I think.The only difficulty I have with some of the more "doomsday" conclusions can maybe be a little presumptious. The increased level of quantative and qualitative detections and observations, can maybe be misleading in detecting cycles and episodes. What are your thoughts about that?

PS. maybe for some tornado-interested forum-members there may be some interesting articles too, like:

The illusion from which we are seeking to extricate ourselves is not that constituted by the realm of space and time, but that which comes from failing to know that realm from the standpoint of a higher vision. -L.H.

As StefanR pointed out, it is also possible that the article is not commonly distributed, due to the barriers resulting from the East/West gap, and many scientists are simply not aware of it. Those that are, probably would not pass it on to their colleagues because it is perceived as "fringe." Dr. Dmitriev subscribes to the 'Plasma Universe' school of thought, which makes mainstream (gravity is all you need) science uneasy. I would also question, the doomsday aspect. We seem to encounter this 'chicken little syndrome' in many areas. Though, perhaps we should worry if we are moving into a galactic region that is putting increasing electrical stress on the Sun and the solar system. I wonder if there is an implication (from the article) that we could be seeing some increased visual effects such as enhanced auroras, or perhaps one or more of a solar system objects' plasmasphere going from dark to glow mode? due to increased electrical stress. Any connection to the Comet Holmes' flare up? Or is one of the gas giants about to become a brown dwarf? Is that possible?

I believe Dr.Alexey Dmitriev is correct. If we are to pass through the central plane of the galaxy then we will be passing through areas of higher density plasma. If we pass through one of the star forming arms, then the plasma density would be even higher, and the electrical activity much more energetic. This image would indicate we may pass through the plane in a less plasma dense gap between the spiral arms: